Human Rights advocacy
Gender Equality
Women are still left out of decision-making process
Yasmin Rimi
Women in this male-dominated society have always been left out of the mainstream. The men in the families have made decisions for them. Few women can decide what is good or bad for them. What is true at the family level is also good at national level. Women lag behind men in all aspects of the society.
In national politics women have yet to get proper recognition. The demand that the number of reserved seats for women in Parliament be increased and the seats be filled in direct votes by women has yet to be accepted by the government. Only five women were directly elected in the 300-member Parliament in 1991 elections; only seven in 1996 and six in 2001. It's thus clear that women have little voice in the country's legislature.
The position of women in the political parties is also weak. That in turn makes their position in the government ever weaker. A handful of female ministers in the Cabinet seem to be helpless.
In 1991, the size of the Cabinet was of 39 members; except the Prime Minister, there was only one woman in the form of a state minister; in the 1996 Cabinet there were only two female ministers among the 38 Cabinet members, except the Prime Minister; the current 60-member Cabinet has only two female members besides Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Women thus account for only five per cent of the cabinet.
Says Mahmuda Islam, a professor at Dhaka University and a social thinker, "The number of female ministers is negligible. On the other hand, they have been given the charge of ministries that deal with the traditional roles of women in our country like household activities or affairs related to mothers. For example, Women and Children Affairs Ministry, Social Welfare, Cultural Affairs and Primary Education."
The number of women in government jobs is far fewer than men. There are even fewer women in the higher administrative jobs. There is a provision of keeping aside 10 per cent of government jobs for women, a system that has remained unfulfilled.
According to a 2000 report of the Establishment Ministry, among the 49 government secretaries 48 are men and only one woman; in the posts of additional secretaries 54 men and one woman, in the posts of joint secretaries there were only five women among the 275 officers and only seven women among 659 deputy secretaries of the government.
Women are subjected to discrimination and gender bias in government jobs. Many do not get jobs even after fulfilling all the necessary conditions.
This has greatly undermined the concept of equality between men and women," says Dr. Mahbuba Nasrin, a teacher of Sociology at Dhaka University. ``Equal opportunities for men and women could lead to decline in violence in the society," she believes.
She says women are not allowed to make decisions. ``They are treated as inferior human beings. Men dismiss women as less intelligent. They are not treated as human beings, but considered as mere women."
Given opportunities women can prove their talent and worth in politics. In the UP elections, female candidates canvassed for votes as strongly as the men did. Some 50-70 per cent female voters cast their ballots.
A survey conducted by Khan Foundation has, however, revealed that women can play a greater role in the society if they are elected in direct votes competing with men. Direct polls are better for women's empowerment, according to the study. The survey further showed that 82 per cent of female UP members were not satisfied with their jobs.
``We have been elected in the reserved seats for women. Yet we are not called to attend important meetings. We are not allowed to deal with or sign important documents. The male members keep us away from work saying that there has not been any manual for female members," complains Minara Begum, a female ward member at Chinishpur Union in Narsingdi district.
While literacy among women has increased in the past few decades, women are still few in higher education. Still women are trying to go ahead.
According to UNDP, more Bangladeshi women take part in economic activities in Bangladesh than its South Asian neighbours. In 2003, it was 55.9 per cent in Bangladesh. In India it was only 25.7 per cent, Pakistan 15.2 per cent and in Sri Lanka 47.4 per cent.
Says Mashuda Khatoon Shefali, Executive Director at Nari Uddyog Kendra, "In this male-dominated society, women are subjugated by men. That's why women can't fully utilise their abilities or talent. But we must not forget that women make up half the country's population. We will not be able to reduce poverty unless we are able to allow women to work."
According to Tasmima Hossain, editor of Ananya magazine: "The subjugation of women by men starts at family level. Girls are always told about Dos and Don'ts. Thus they lose their natural talent and initiatives. They become mentally crippled and their self-confidence declines. That's why their talent of leadership does not always flourish."
-NewsNetwork
